| | The Han dynasty's Yue had four ranks: first was Dayu Yue, used for rituals at the imperial ancestral temples and altars, as well as for meals served in the Shangling Dian hall. The music used in suburban rituals, as the Yijing said, "Former kings composed music to honor virtue and offer abundant sacrifices to Heaven," and according to the Rites of Zhou, "When the six transformations of ritual music are performed, all heavenly deities descend and can thus be honored with rites." The music for ancestral temple rituals, as the Book of Yu said, "With zithers and harps they sang; ancestors came to receive offerings," and the Book of Songs says, "Respectful and harmonious sounds resound—ancestors listen with pleasure." The music for meals, as the Rites of Kings said, "The Son of Heaven used music during his meals," and according to the Rites of Zhou: "When the king had a grand meal, he ordered the playing of bells and drums." The second was Zhou Song Ya Yue (Elegant Music from the Odes of Zhou), used for rituals at Biyong, banquets and archery ceremonies, rites to the Six Ancestries, and sacrifices to the land and grain gods. Biyong and feasting with archery, as the Classic of Filial Piety said, "To change customs and transform society, nothing is better than music," and the Book of Rites says, "He who governs the world through courtesy and yielding refers to rites and music." The sacrifices to land and grain gods refer to what is said in the Book of Songs: "With zithers, harps, and drums, we honor Tian Zu (the god of farming)." The Book of Rites said, "Music is expressed through metal and stone instruments, transmitted in sound and melody, used in ancestral temples and sacrifices to land and grain deities, and offered to mountains, rivers, spirits, and gods"—this refers precisely to that. Third was Huangmen Guchui, used by the Son of Heaven to entertain his ministers with music and dancing. This is what the Book of Songs refers to as "The drums beat rhythmically for me; the dancers move gracefully before me." Its short xiao (flute) and nao song were military music. According to the records, it was said to have been created by Huangdi and Qibo in order to establish authority, promote virtue, and encourage soldiers. This is what the Rites of Zhou refers to as "When the king's army achieves a great victory, he orders triumphal music; when the military force achieves a great success, he commands triumphant songs." Emperor Xiaozhang personally composed four chapters of song poetry, which were included in the music for meals; he also created twelve poems for Yuntai Gate, each to be performed during its respective month's sacrifice. In the first month of the fourth year of Xiping, new poems for Yuntai's twelve gates were issued. The Da Yu Yue Guan (Office of Grand Music) was ordered to study and recite them, set them to music, and have them performed alongside the old poems; all should be compiled in order to complete the Records of Music.
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